The men's basketball team fought hard all night long but was outlasted by NYU by a final score of 63-51 on Tuesday night at the Doghouse. The Bloodhounds drop their first game of the season and fall to 2-1. The Violets improve to 3-1. 

Senior Essien Epps led the way with a season-high and game-high 20 points, seven rebounds, and game-high four steals. Junior Doug Levy finished with a team-high 13 rebounds, eight points, and a career-high and game-high seven blocks. Sophomore Kyle LaGuardia added six points, three steals, and three boards. 

NYU scored the first three points of the game but Epps tallied the next four points to give the Bloodhounds their first lead of the contest. With John Jay leading by three, the Violets followed on a 7-0 run to hold a 13-9 advantage. 

Trailing by seven, Epps converted on two free-throws and LaGuardia made a layup to cut the deficit to three with 3:29 left in the opening half. NYU ended the period with seven straight points to lead 28-18 at the half. 

The guests scored eight of the first nine points in the second to increase their lead to 17. A three-pointer by senior Jerome Petty trimmed the lead down to 13 and with 11:43 left to go, Levy drained a three to cut the deficit to 42-32. 

However, NYU responded with back-to-back three-pointers to seal the victory. The Bloodhounds made a late comeback but would go on to drop the non-conference game. 

John Jay finished 17-for-57 (29.8%) from the floor, 4-for-22 (18.2%) from behind the arc, and 13-for-19 (68.4%) from the free-throw line. 

The Bloodhounds travel to Maritime College on Tuesday, November 27, for a non-conference game at 7:00 pm.